Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
Elements, Compounds and Reactions (Purple level)
1. The Periodic Table shows chemical elements. Which one of these statements is true? [1 mark]
a) They were all discovered by a scientist called Mendeleev
b) They can all be found in a chemical store room
c) Elements in the same row have similar properties
d) Scientists sometimes add further elements to it.
2. We can represent the oxidation of magnesium by using the equation:
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
Which one of these statements is untrue? [1 mark]
a) The product has two magnesium atoms to every oxygen atom
b) Oxygen has two atoms in a molecule
c) Magnesium is a reactant
d) Magnesium oxide is a compound
3. Why is gold sometimes used in circuit boards? [1 mark]
a) It is a very expensive metal
b) It is a better electrical conductor than all other metals
c) It is a very good electrical conductor and does not corrode
d) Gold is not as dense as copper
4. Sulfuric acid has the chemical formula H2SO4. Explain what the formula H2SO4 means. [2 marks]
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
5. In Diagrams A, B and C the circles represent two different types of atom. What does Diagram B show?
[1 mark]
a) A pure element
b) A pure compound
c) A mixture of two elements
d) A mixture of an element and a compound
e) A mixture of two compounds
6. In Diagrams A, B and C the circles represent two different types of atom. What does Diagram C show?
[1 mark]
a) A pure element
b) A pure compound
c) A mixture of two elements
d) A mixture of an element and a compound
e) A mixture of two compounds
7. Use your Periodic Table to classify these elements as metal, non-metal or metalloid. [1 mark]
Strontium (Sr)
Metal
Manganese (Mn)
Metalloid
Selenium (Se)
Metal
Tellurium (Te)
Metal
Uranium (U)
Non-metal
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
8. Explain the similarities and differences between these two chemical reactions: magnesium burning
and iron rusting (oxidising). [4 marks]
9. Overhead pylons carry high voltage electricity around the country. The cables could be made from a
bundle of copper wires (Cable A) or a bundle of aluminium wires with a steel core (Cable B).
What is the main advantage of having copper as the wire (Cable A)? [1 mark]
a) Copper is the densest metal
b) Copper is the cheapest metal
c) Copper is the best electrical conductor
d) Copper is the strongest metal
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
10. Overhead pylons carry high voltage electricity around the country. The cables could be made from a
bundle of copper wires (Cable A) or a bundle of aluminium wires with a steel core (Cable B).
Cable B is the usual choice for high voltage overhead power cables. Which two statements are good
reasons to choose Cable B? [1 mark]
a) Cable B is larger in diameter
b) Cable B is made from cheaper metals than Cable A
c) Aluminium is a relatively good conductor of electricity and the steel core gives it
added strength
d) Cable B is much lighter than cable A
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
11. The formula of a chemical compound can be modelled using building bricks. Match these diagrams
of building blocks to compounds they model. [1 mark]
Diagram A
Carbon oxide (CO2)
Diagram B
Copper dioxide (CuO)
Diagram C
Aluminium chloride (AlCl3)
Diagram D
Methane (CH4)
12. All models used in science have strengths and limitations.
Identify two strengths and one limitation of using building bricks to model compounds. [2 marks]
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
13. Kalgoorlie super pit is the world’s biggest open gold mine. The mine is in Australia and is three
kilometres long, a kilometre and a half wide and 400 metres deep.
Explain the benefits and drawbacks of open cast mining. [4 marks]
14. Look at the data table for the group 18 elements (noble gases).
At which of these temperatures could xenon be a liquid? Choose three answers. [1 mark]
a) -103 degrees Celsius
b) -106 degrees Celsius
c) -108 degrees Celsius
d) -111 degrees Celsius
e) -114 degrees Celsius
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
15. Look at the data table for the group 18 elements (noble gases).
How do the density and boiling points of the noble gases change as you go down the group? [1 mark]
a) The densities decrease steadily and the boiling points increase
b) The densities increase steadily and the boiling points increase
c) The densities increase steadily and the boiling points decrease
d) The density decreases steadily and the boiling points decrease
16. A group of students reacted magnesium metal in air to make magnesium oxide, MgO. Predict the
formula for calcium oxide. Give a reason for your prediction. [2 marks]
17. A group of students reacted magnesium metal in air to make magnesium oxide. The students
weighed the magnesium before the experiment and weighed the mass of magnesium oxide after the
experiment. They repeated the experiment three more times.
Why was it important to repeat the experiment? [1 mark]
a) To give them accurate results
b) To give them repeatable results
c) To give them reproducible results
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Key Stage 3 Science Book 1 Assessments
18. This apparatus is used to investigate the thermal decomposition of metal carbonates:
Steve’s group used this with a number of different metal carbonates. No matter which they tried, what
always happened in the test tube on the right and why? [4 marks]
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